Eddie Hackett Golf Tour – Around lively Cork City and County Cork

Cork is Ireland’s second city and is a vibrant and interesting place to visit. Eddie Hackett has long been deemed Ireland’s leading golf course designer. He started late being in his fifties before designing his first eighteen-hole course. If you visit Ireland to play golf the chances are that you are likely to walk in Hackett’s footsteps as he was involved in designing or modifying about a quarter of the total number of about 400 courses.

He was an evolutionary figure and his record of creating golf courses in quantity nearly always on a low budget stands as a remarkable achievement. It appears that Eddie had a pact with Mother Nature to design courses with the minimum of disruption to her existing creation.

The Tour:

Mahon Golf Course (5829 yards, Par 70)

In 1978 Cork City Council engaged Eddie Hackett to design an 18-hole golf course on the Mahon Peninsula close to Cork City. This would be Ireland's first purpose built Municipal Golf Course and the Golfing Union of Ireland assisted financially helping to bring golf to those who would find it difficult to join a private club. The Course was opened in the 1980’s and was named the Ted McCarthy Municipal Golf Course. Today, the Hackett design continues to be a very challenging test to all levels of Golfers at the Mahon Golf Course. It is about two miles from Cork City between Clover Hill and the estuary of the Douglas River. From here there is a delightful view of Lough Mahon and the gently sloping hills of Rochestown. The course has many undulating tight fairways, numerous water hazards and extremely demanding greens. There are some daunting par fours and scenic, testing par threes. Both the 11th and 12th are short par 5's, which are good opportunities to improve your score. Restaurant and bar service is provided in the Blackrock Inn.

The par four fifth is a difficult tee shot. On the left is the Mahon estuary and there are large trees on the right. It is a dogleg right from the fairway to a slightly raised green that slopes front to back, protected by overhanging trees front left of the green.

The ninth is a scenic uphill par three. The green is two tiered sloping back to front. It offers a very narrow target and is protected by a pot bunker on the right.

The par four tenth is relatively short. The fairway slopes severely from left to right. The green is slightly raised, two tiered and slopes from left to right with two large bunkers protecting it.

The sixteenth is a long testing par four. There is out of bounds all along the left side of the fairway and up to the green. There is a water hazard short of the undulating green and three large green side bunkers.

Macroom Golf Club (6118 yards, Par 71)

The Macroom Golf Club is ideally located just 30 minutes west of Cork City and 40 minutes east of Killarney. The course is on the site of a 12th century Castle within a historic parkland estate. Lady Olivia Ardilaun, who was descended from the McCarthy chiefs, sold the castle estate in 1924 to a group of local businessmen. It was to be held in trust for the people of the town. The club was founded in 1925 and had a nine hole course within the estate. In 1993 the club was able to extend the course to 18 holes and build a new clubhouse which was completed in 1997. The 18 hole layout was created by the leading Irish golf architect Eddie Hackett and Jack Kennelly. The club likes to promote that a friendly welcome and great golfing experience awaits you, “through the Castle Gates”.

It is a fine parkland course with rolling terrain and fine old trees within the castle grounds and on the winding banks of the Sullane River. The shadows of the Kerry mountains create a backdrop to the west. It is a tranquil, beautiful location with many interesting and historical features.

The par three second is cut into the side of a hill. The greens entrance is guarded by an oak tree and the grassy bunker on the left prevents many tee shots from reaching the green.

The par four third tee is dominated by one of the remaining original Falconries in Ireland.

Many a good score has been destroyed by the River Sullane, which comes into play from the tenth to the fourteenth holes.

The par four twelfth second shot is over the river. The "Bathing House" where the ladies of the town once changed to go swimming, looks across at the green on the bank of the river.

The par four eighteenth hole is a challenging finish. It has "out-of-bounds" on both sides of the fairway.

East Cork Golf Course (5634 yards, Par 69 )

East Cork Golf Club was founded in 1968 when the owners of a dairy farm converted it into a nine hole golf course. The Course is situated on the outskirts of Midleton, off the main Cork-Waterford road and 25 minute drive from Cork City. It is bordered by two rivers, making it an ideal location for a parkland golf course. Eddie Hackett, Ireland's foremost Golf Course Architect designed the course with the work carried out by Ned Moran, a local contractor. On 10 November 1969 the course was officially opened by the late Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D. It has matured over the years into an striking and challenging layout and was later extended to eighteen holes. The course is flanked by trees and the Owenacurra river provides water hazards at four holes around the turn. You require accuracy off the tee, rather than power. This is especially needed on the front nine, where most of the fairways are tree lined with tall firs and many of the holes are strategically bunkered, most notably the eighth. The 380-yard par four twelfth plays long when you are facing a strong wind. The back nine is more open with water hazards and rivers to cope with or navigate if things go wrong.

Bandon Golf Club (6634 yards, Par 69)

Bandon Golf Club is in County Cork at Castle Bernard, Bandon. The course can be found on the west side of Bandon between the Clonakilty and Dunmanway roads in the old Castlebernard estate. Bandon is in West Cork, located about 19 miles south west of Cork City between the popular tourist towns of Kinsale and Clonakilty. There is some confusion as to the foundation date of Bandon Golf Club. The Golfing Annual of 1896-97 gives September 1893 as its foundation date. Then in 1909-10, gives 1st January 1910 as the foundation date but this is actually when it was affiliated to the Golfing Union. The Sportsman's Holiday Guide of 1897 gives the following description; "course within the demesne of Castle Bernard, Lord Bandon's beautiful place in Co. Cork. The green, which is a nine-hole one, is about one-and-a-half-miles round”.

The course is undulating parkland and the current layout of 18 holes was designed by the esteemed Irish Golf Architect Eddie Hackett in the 1970’s. It is set in 130 acres of the grounds of the old Castle Bernard Estate, in the Bandon River valley. The golf course is laid out amongst mature woodlands bordered by the original estate walls that date to the eighteenth century. Holes five, six, and seven are set around Castlebernard and offer a unique photo opportunity. There is a wonderful diversity of wildlife and it has been noted as the course with the most wildlife species in Ireland. It is a testing course in a charming setting with natural hazards abounding. The undulating river valley leads to a variety of shots with the ball both below and above the players feet at different times. The course is well maintained with excellent greens. It winds around the ruins of the grand old Castlebernard. With holes protected by water, bunkers and some well-placed trees there is plenty of challenge. Add to that OOB comes into play from twelve tees. There is plenty of variety with the par consisting of two par fives, thirteen par fours and three par threes.

The par four sixth at 485 yards is the toughest on the front nine and index two. Watch out in summer as long hitters may reach the water. The second shot is likely to be played from a downhill lie to a green raised slightly above the fairway. A par on this hole is a great result.

The 115 yards par three eleventh is downhill and tricky. It requires a very careful drive.

The par four thirteenth is 440 yards and is a difficult driving hole. There is OOB on the left and large trees on the right. A slight fade off the tee is recommended. The approach shot is to a large sloping green. With the flag on the front, do not play long to the green. You could have a tricky putt with a chip to follow.

The 430 yards par four fourteenth is index one, with OOB throughout the hole on the left. A straight second is needed to avoid a large bank and protect trees. The green is well protected with bunkers.

The eighteenth is 187 yards, a par three with a downhill tee shot to the clubhouse. There is water waiting on the right and a miss left or right will leave you a tricky chip over bunkers.

Raffeen Creek Golf Club (5630 yards, Par 70)

The Raffeen Creek Golf Club is a nine hole course which enjoys a wonderful setting on the shores of Monkstown Creek at Ringaskiddy. It is about 20 minutes’ drive south of lively Cork City, which has many attractions and places of interest for visitors. There are beautiful views of the harbour and the natural lake which is a feature of holes eight and nine is a very scenic bird sanctuary. The Course was designed by the popular Irish golf course architect Eddie Hackett, it was opened for play in March 1989. The Club was officially opened by the President of the Golfing Union of Ireland in June 1989. A fourball featuring professionals Christy O’Connor Snr, Batt Murphy (Monkstown GC), and Irish International Amateurs Tom Cleary and Denis O’Sullivan followed. The course is sometimes referred to as a seaside links but links / parkland is probably more accurate. Following a review in 1996 Eddie Hackett wrote in his report, “I love this Course, full of charm, every hole in a different direction and each with its own special challenge and unique features.” The course provides a demanding but enjoyable test for golfers of all abilities in a very scenic setting.

The 1st/10th hole is a par four, no easy opening as this is Index 1/2. The tee shot is downhill with OOB along the left and water on the right. Two magnificent trees also guard the fairway. The approach is to a difficult protected green.

The par four 3rd and 12th is another demanding hole requiring an accurate tee shot, The slightly elevated green has a deep drop to the right and is guarded by two hazardous bunkers.

The 8th and 17th is a par four with a drive over water to a fairway strewn with bunkers. There is water down the left and over the back of the green requiring an accurate approach shot.

The par three 9th and 18th is the signature hole. A short par three over water to an elevated green with a steep bank behind it.

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